3:17a–b

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him: The two parts of this sentence say similar things, the first part negatively and the second positively. In some language it is more natural to reorder them. See the General Comment on 3:17a–b.

3:17a

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world: This part of the sentence indicates what God’s purpose was not: God’s purpose and desire were not to condemn the world. Translate this verse so it is clear that God did send his Son into the world, but his purpose was not to condemn the world. Here are other ways to translate this purpose:

It was not to judge the world that God sent his Son into the world. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge. (Good News Translation)

For: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces an explanation. Most English translations translate it as “for” here (English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation). Others do not translate the word (Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, Revised English Bible). It is recommended that you translate the word using the natural way to introduce an explanation in your language.

His Son: The phrase His Son refers to God’s Son, as in 3:16a. In some languages it may be necessary to make this more explicit, like the Berean Standard Bible does.

condemn: To condemn someone is to declare that they are guilty of some wrongdoing. Here is another way to translate this word:

judge guilty (New Century Version)

world: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as world refers to the people of the world. See also the note on 3:16a.

3:17b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement in 3:17a to a positive statement in 3:17b. This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

It was not to judge the world that God sent his Son into the world, but that through him the world might be saved. (Revised English Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

God did not send his son here to earth in order to sentence the people. Rather he sent him here to earth that he save the people.

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

God sent his son to the world to save the people there, not to judge them.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

to save the world through Him: This is a purpose clause. It tells God’s purpose in sending Jesus into the world.

save the world through Him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as save is actually passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

that through him the world might be saved (Revised English Bible)

• Use an active verb. For example:

be its savior (Good News Translation)

save: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as save here means to be rescued, delivered, or freed from sin. The result is that God will not judge or condemn a person that he has saved. That means that he will not punish that person.

the world: Here again the world refers to the people of the world. For example:

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! (Contemporary English Version)

through Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as through Him here means “because of what he/Jesus did.” Jesus lived, died, and rose again for us so that we might be saved from sin and evil. In some languages you may need to make some of this clear. For example:

he sent his Son to be the one who saves the world
-or-
God’s purpose/intention in sending his Son into the world is to save/deliver/rescue people ⌊from their sins⌋ .

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